Connecting a wire cage to a bin cage

[Pebbles82]

Or if you got a refund for the Rosewood cage you would only need another £4 for an Alaska cage Or £14 for a Barney cage.

If you really want to make a bin cage though, you'd need something of this kind of size for a Syrian really.

Go Shopping - Really Useful Boxes - 145 litre Really Useful Box

Another option - if you have the space for it - is a detolf hack. Costs £40 and you make a lid out of strips of wood and mesh (a bit easier than a bin cage in my opinion).

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Ha...j1BZ0Q_AUIBigB

DETOLF Glass-door cabinet Black-brown 43x163 cm - IKEA

The only thing there is it needs something to stand on really - like a couple of 4 x 4 kallax cube storage units or a couple of Ikea lack tables, which adds to the cost - unless you have something to stand it on.

[AmityvilleHams]

Honestly you could just use bins completely and try getting a refund for the wire cages.That way,you can connect them easier and potentially get more floor space than a Detolf for a better value with some initial investment for tools and mesh(which can go towards more cages in the future).

Attaching bins together with zip ties is possible,and there is even a method for bins which slope that is a more recent discovery.Simply using a flat bin between sloping bins should work to keep a connection,as long as it is an uninterrupted connection as well(meaning no tubes etc).

[CMB]

If you do decide to connect the wire cage to a large bin cage have lots of substrate in the bottom of the cage in case of falls, but add levels etc to minimise the risk of falling.

If your hamster stops climbing you could do what you said and remove the wire cage and add wire over the hole of the bin cage or joine another bin to extend lengthwise.

[SazLloyd]

Thanks everyone. I think I've decided to buy a Barney cage. Hopefully Pets at Home will refund me for my wire cage - if not it's pay day at the end of the week! I can live without treats for myself so Lemon can be a happy hamster!

[cypher]

I think Lemon will be a very happy ham in the barney!

[Pebbles82]

Hope you get the refund Zooplus can take up to a week to deliver - depending if there's a week-end in the way. It can take 2 days or 7 days. They might say bring it back when you have the new cage if you tell them it's not suitable and you are waiting for something else to arrive in the next few days

When you move Lemon, move all the existing substrate across as well - it helps them settle in after the change. I found it easiest to put all new substrate in almost to the top of the cage base, and then spread the old substrate on top (because the Barney will hold more substrate than you have now). If there's not enough of the old substrate then spread most of it around the house and wheel areas. And put a big pile of torn up strips of plain white toilet paper out somewhere in the cage, maybe not far from the house. Lemon will take it and build a nest. Sometimes the mountain of paper doesn't seem to go down much and then one day you notice there isn't much left!

A lot of people on here use Fitch substrate because it works out economical in a big cage and also hams seem to really like it and add it to their nest. It's just recylced food grade paper, doesn't have any dust and it's hypoallergenic. But there are other substrates available you can buy in bulk. I like it because the pieces are big enough that it doesn't fall out of the 7mm bars even if it gets piled up against the bars! The 20kg bag works out cheapest but it's huge - I used to get the 10kg bag which was easier to store indoors - and that would last me about 6 months - if you have the substrate deep - because then you only need to spot clean mostly and only do a "big" cage clean every 2 to 3 months or even longer - particularly if your ham uses a litter tray. Even then you don't need to replace all of it - just the top third to half and mix the new in with it so it still smells familiar (the bottom layer mostly stays dry although if a ham burrows down and wee's near the bottom it might be a different 1/3 to 1/2 you re-use).

If you get chance it can be good to let them have a play in it a day or two before moving everything over so they adjust to the move. You could have the new substrate in and a couple of his familiar toys and let him explore it and check everything out. Then on moving day you'll need somewhere to put him for an hour or so while you move everything across. If you have a pet carrier that can be a useful place - I used to fill it with substrate and a little house and hide some food and put it upstairs in the bedroom with a blanket over (so our hammy couldn't hear me messing with his cage!) and he'd just go to sleep in it. But a large box with some toys/tunnels in might do (maybe the box the Barney comes in

This is the Fitch substrate - it also takes a few days to arrive. Amazon sell it too but it costs a pound or two more and I think it still comes direct from the manufacturers.

https://www.fitchrecycling.co.uk/ani...-delivery.html

[CMB]

Hope the Barney cage arrives soon and Lemon settles in and enjoys it.

[SazLloyd]

I actually ended up getting him the Alaska cage as I couldn't afford the Barey (and the 12" wheel an hammocks I've bought him as well) atm as I needed to pay for petrol which just too me under my available budget by a couple of £ - and didn't really want to wait another 2 weeks for a new cage to arrive.

I will update this feed once it arrives. And will take care to make the move as easy as possible. My only worry now is where I'm going to put the new cage!

[Pebbles82]

The Alaska cage is excellent too It should fit on top of a chest of drawers - it won't matter if it has a bit of overhang. And the things that are normally on top of a chest of drawers are usually small things that can go somewhere else Or - where were you going to put the bin cage? The Alaska has a nice big front opening door so good for interaction.

[Hamsterita]

You bought Lemon a wonderful cage! I'll stay tuned. I love seeing set up pics.